Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-10

ouc Va tho N,ot hufnto Il oNtf tatht
across"
"Who IL she 2"
"Hang il, man. how do / know"
| confessed I did not know, except on
The general principle that he was sup
posed TO know everything, and there
the subject dropped. After this | saw
Miss Van Meter pretty often. con-
trived every means of meeting her and
talking with her, and the more / saw OF
her the better liked her. Things had
gone on this way for a month or six
weeks when one night at my chambers
/ had another long conference with my
self. put the question, Are you in
love with her ?" TWAS q serious ques-
ton, and involved some important con-
sequences yet in an instant these
words came into my mind aud filed IL
with q sound Like the humming Of bees
on summers day:
"Eaye you seon but bright lily grow, ~ .
| Before rude hands have touched III
Have you marked but the fail OF the snow,
Before the soil have amutched 1911
| Have you felt the wool OF the beaver!
Or swans down evers
| Or have sinelt o the bud nj the brier!
Or the nard In tho fret
OR have tasted the bag Of tho bees
on. so white oh 80 soft oh, 80 sweet Is che
And by the same token l knew that i
was in love with her.
"But you are poor and cannot afford
to keep wife. She is poor, and you
have called upon your stars to write
You down an ass if you ever look at a
girl that cannot lift you from the slough
Of poverty. Think of your mother and
sister. Think how domestic cares will
hinder you in your profession, weigh
You down, cat out your heart"
Put to every objection there was the
one delicious and irrefragable answer
"Oh, so white oh, so softl oh, 80
sweet is she /" After which 1 went to
bed with delightful project in nay
head and slept soundly till morning.
When l rose l felt curiously nervous
/ was almost afraid to shave lest
should cut myself, as my hand trem-
bled so. / dressed with more than my
usual care, and took nothing for my
breakfast except couple of strong cups
of coffee. Then / made my way to the
hospital, went in search of Miss Van
Meter, found her in one of the wards,
and said to her "Are you very busy
just now? ?"
She looked little surprised as she
replied: "No 1 am at liberty for some
time"
81 want to speak with you let us so
lower down the room," said, ner-
vously.
1t was large room, and at the lower
end the beds were all empty. In front
of one of the many windows was large
screen that cut us off from the view of
the inmates OF the further end. We
were liable to be interrupted at any
moment by some one entering, but that
did not trouble me. She stoodmotion-
less, with her hands clasped in front OF
her and her face unusually pale. i
think her woman's instinct was alert.
II hardly know" / said, "where to
begin my tale to make it most effective.
I think had better begin at the end.
I want to tell you that l love you. l
want to esk you to be my wife,"
In a moment the pallor fed and the
blood came mounting to her face, but
she did not speak, only dropped her
eyelids.
DARLING. | love you with all my
heart and soul | cannot live without
you. will live only for you-ive to
make you happy. Oh, don't say no,
Ethel. L have nothing to offer you
except my love and my good name, but
with you to work for i will get on and
make money. / can do anything with
you 10y my side"
pleaded with passion that is the
key of eloquence.
But am only nurse"
"Nay, you are a sweet woman, the
sweetest living"
81 an poor you should not marry
poor girl, dear Andre"
Dear Andre! How divine my name
sounded on her lips
"Poorl Your dowry is your sweet
womanhood it is better than money.
Are you afraid of poverty, Ethel?"
~ don't know. L am afraid it is not
a desirable thing"
"But l shall get on my prospects
are good. l will work day and night
for your sake.
"Then you would soon die and
leave me. Do you know we are al
most strangers to each other ?"
"Then we shall have the longer
time to be friends. Say yon love me,
say you care for ne q Int, darling.
MY happiness is in your keeping" L
said, taking her hands in mine.
"Yes, / could say that with truth /;
but am not sure yet that am the girl
for you" she answered in low voice.
II am, though" said, and bend
ing down, I kissed her. For amoment
or two she was pliable ; then she gently
pushed me from her, saying:
"No, not yet | am not sure that it
is right Won't you leave me now,
please 2"
eyes, but you are mine now. God
bless you!" And raising her hand to
my lips / kissed it and left her.
That same day i wrote my mother
telling her the news. In as short
time as the mail arrangements allowed
| received her answer. 1t was not en-
couragipg it was crammed with solid
common sense and shrewd worldly wis
dom. but it made no concession TO my
affection. Full of sagacity, it was empty
of sympathy. / burned it with sore
heart. 1t was about three weeks after
this when Miss Van Meter said to me
one day just outside of Bellevue
Il am going home tomorrow for
few days. Could You run down for
day? I should like TO exhibit you,
You know, TO the 'old folk.
She SPOKE lauehingly and with an
affected freedom that contrasted charm
ingly with her ordinary reserve.
81 shall be delighted. thought
your parents were not living, Ethel ?"
She looked up quickly, then smiled
as she said:
"Indeedl What made you think
that ?"
1t was not convenient for me to tell
her that her landlady it was that had
made the blunder.
"Well, perhaps because you had not
spoken Of them. You will give me
Your address ? You must not stay too
long. When am / to Gomez"
To-day is Wednesday; suppose you
come on Saturday? posted you
note this morning containing the ad-
dress you will find it when you get
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